California CalFresh

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This happened to me back in June!!! I had to go to a food bank for the weekend. Which was humiliating because I already get CalFresh but the volunteers were nice. The most frustrating part is that when benefits finally came back Tuesday, they acted like it was no big deal. Like we're just supposed to magically find food for 4 days with no warning???

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right??? they dont care at all about us. my worker once told me "oh just go to the food bank" like im not already getting benefits cuz i NEED THEM

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I'm sorry you went through this too. Did they at least give you the full benefit amount when it finally went through? I'm worried they'll prorate it or something because of the delay.

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Quick update for everyone in this thread - I just got a text alert from the CalFresh office stating benefits delayed by the system outage will be deposited by Monday 9am, even though offices are closed for Labor Day. They're prioritizing getting benefits loaded before resolving other systems issues. Hope this helps ease some stress for the weekend.

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That's such a relief to hear! Thank you for sharing this update. I haven't received any text yet but hopefully that means mine will come through Monday too. Going to try the food bank tomorrow just in case, but this makes me feel so much better.

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Just got the same text! Really wish they'd sent this information out BEFORE people panicked, but at least they're fixing it faster than Tuesday.

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One more thing to consider: if you decide to go ahead with this, I'd recommend documenting your current inventory and sales patterns before applying. When I helped a client apply, USDA actually asked for 3 months of receipts and inventory records to verify the 50% staple food requirement. They're pretty thorough in their verification process. Also, keep in mind that if you're approved, you'll need an EBT point-of-sale system. Some payment processors include this functionality in their standard systems now, but others charge extra for EBT processing capability.

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That's really helpful to know about the documentation requirements. I'll start tracking that data more carefully. And good point about the POS system - I'll check with my current payment processor to see if they support EBT transactions. Honestly, this all sounds more complicated than I initially thought, but I still think it could be worthwhile if I can make it work.

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just 2 add something else - if ur in a food desert area (not many grocery options nearby) u might get more consideration. my friend has a small market in south LA and they got approved faster cuz they were in an area with limited food options. might be worth mentioning if thats ur situation!!

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Dont trust them AT ALL!!! They did this to me too and then claimed I never submitted my docs even though I HAD PROOF i uploaded them!!! Take screenshots of EVERYTHING and write down the confirmation numbers when you upload. The system is designed to trip you up and cut benefits whenever possible.

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thats so true! i always take pictures of everything i send them and screenshots of confirmation pages. better safe than sorry!!

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That's really concerning... I'll definitely take screenshots of the confirmation pages. Is there a way to check if they actually received what I uploaded?

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To directly answer your questions: 1. You should definitely submit the verification documents they requested, even though you received the EBT card. CalFresh regulations allow counties to issue benefits based on your statements during the interview, but they still need verification documents to continue your benefits beyond the first month or two. 2. The best way to submit your paystubs is through BenefitsCal.com - log in to your account, go to "My Benefits" and then you should see an option to "Submit Verification" or something similar. Upload clear photos or scans of your paystubs. 3. About the UIB mention - this is simply informational. The CalFresh worker noticed your husband is unemployed and is letting you know he might qualify for Unemployment Insurance Benefits. This is handled through EDD (Employment Development Department), not CalFresh. He can apply at edd.ca.gov if he lost his job through no fault of his own. 4. Your benefit amount of $530 for a family of 3 with one income seems in the expected range for 2025, especially if you have significant housing costs or childcare expenses that were reported during your interview. Make sure you keep track of your Semi-Annual Report (SAR7) due date, which will be approximately 6 months from approval. This is absolutely critical to continue receiving benefits.

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Thank you for breaking it down so clearly! I'll go submit everything through BenefitsCal right away. Do you know if there's a deadline for when these documents need to be submitted? The forms don't have any clear due date.

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Generally, verification documents should be submitted within 10 days of the request. Since you already received benefits, I would submit them immediately to avoid any potential disruption. The county may have already set a deadline in their system that could result in a discontinuance notice if you don't submit soon. Better safe than sorry!

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I'm so confused about all of this. I thought the extra CalFresh benefits ended after COVID? Is this something different? My family of 4 gets regular CalFresh but I haven't heard anything about extra money. Should I be looking for something extra on my card too? We're in Inglewood area...

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This is different from the pandemic emergency allotments that ended in 2023. This is specifically related to the recent wildfires in certain parts of LA County. If you're in Inglewood (90301-90312), you're not in the affected area for this particular disaster relief, so you wouldn't receive this additional benefit. The regular wildfire-related zip codes are primarily in the northeastern parts of LA County.

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update - mine just loaded this morning!!! check ur accounts everyone

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Just checked and YES!!! Mine came through too! Extra $245 added to my balance. Such a relief - thanks everyone for the info and support!

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Important information for everyone concerned about this change: Your regular CalFresh benefit amount is based on your household size, income, and expenses. If your circumstances have changed since your last certification or SAR7 report, you should contact your county office immediately. Specifically, make sure they have accurate information about: - Your current rent/mortgage amount - Utility costs (you may qualify for the Standard Utility Allowance) - Childcare or dependent care expenses - Medical expenses over $35/month for elderly or disabled household members - Child support payments Each of these deductions can significantly increase your base benefit amount. Don't wait until your next SAR7 or recertification to report these changes if they'll help your benefit calculation.

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Thank you for this detailed information! I just checked my last approval letter and I don't think they included our childcare expenses in the calculation. I need to call them ASAP to get this fixed before the emergency allotments end.

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Has anyone received an official letter from CalFresh about the exact date in March when the emergency allotments will be issued? Some counties seem to be doing it early March, others late March. I need to plan my budget very carefully with this change.

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I got a letter last week that said mine would be issued on March 18th in Riverside County. But my sister in LA County was told March 25th. I think it depends on your case number and county. You should check your BenefitsCal account - sometimes they post notifications there before sending letters.

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